Hojicha Cortado Roasted Tea Drink (Printer-friendly)

A smooth fusion of roasted Japanese hojicha and creamy steamed milk, creating a perfectly balanced silky beverage.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tea

01 - 2 teaspoons hojicha loose leaf tea or 1 hojicha tea bag
02 - 1/2 cup water, just below boiling (approximately 195°F)

→ Milk

03 - 1/2 cup whole milk or plant-based milk alternative

# Directions:

01 - Heat water to just below boiling, approximately 195°F using a kettle or saucepan.
02 - Add hojicha tea leaves or tea bag to a teapot or infuser. Pour hot water over the tea and steep for 2 to 3 minutes. Strain or remove the tea bag.
03 - While the tea steeps, steam the milk until hot and frothy using a milk steamer. If unavailable, gently heat milk on the stovetop and whisk until frothy.
04 - Pour the brewed hojicha into a heatproof cup, approximately 1/2 cup volume.
05 - Add steamed milk in equal proportion, approximately 1/2 cup, holding back the foam with a spoon. Top with frothed milk if desired.
06 - Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like a warm hug that doesn't leave you jittery, perfect for that 3 p.m. slump or a cozy evening wind-down.
  • You can make it in under 10 minutes without any fancy equipment, just a kettle and whatever milk you have on hand.
  • The earthy, toasted flavor of hojicha actually gets *better* when combined with milk, creating something unexpectedly comforting and sophisticated all at once.
02 -
  • The water temperature is genuinely important here—I learned this the hard way when I used boiling water and ended up with something tasting more like burnt hay than the gentle, toasted warmth hojicha is supposed to deliver.
  • If your milk isn't frothing well, it's usually because it's too hot before whisking, so let it cool just a touch and try again with confidence.
03 -
  • If you don't have a milk thermometer, remember that your milk should steam, not boil—aim for that sweet spot where it's hot enough to create a slight hiss in the pan but not so violent that it bubbles aggressively.
  • Quality hojicha makes a noticeable difference here, so seek out loose leaf tea from a Japanese grocer if possible; the aroma alone will tell you it's worth it.
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